Pennsylvania Senate OKs $912M pandemic recovery aid bill
Most of the $912 million being directed by the bill is federal aid approved by Congress in last month's coronavirus recovery package.
The Pennsylvania Capitol is pictured in a file photo. (Office of Gov. Tom Wolf)
Pennsylvania’s state Senate on Wednesday unanimously approved legislation to distribute just over $900 million to aid schools and hospitality-related businesses hit hard by the coronavirus, as well as people struggling to pay rent or utility bills.
The bill still requires approval from the state House of Representatives and Gov. Tom Wolf.
Most of the $912 million being directed by the bill is federal aid approved by Congress in last month’s coronavirus recovery package.
Related Content
Philly plans to offer in-person K-2 classes in February — making third attempt at reopening
The new plan calls for pre-K through grade 2 students to return on Feb. 22. But there are signs that the city’s teachers union will oppose.
3 years ago
Some of it, $145 million, is reserve cash from a worker’s compensation fund that Wolf last month had asked lawmakers to send to businesses hit hard by the pandemic. The money would be available through counties in grants of up to $50,000 for bars, restaurants and hotels.
The majority of the money, $570 million, would be divided up to counties based on population to help people struggling to pay rent or utilities. Landlords and tenants would be eligible to apply.
The rest of the money, $197 million, would be distributed to educational institutions that did not get a cut of the $2.2 billion in federal coronavirus aid that public schools and charter schools are receiving under last month’s federal coronavirus recovery package.
Most of it would go to private schools.
Get daily updates from WHYY News!
WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.
Part of the series
Wanted: More money, more meaning, less burnout. What’s fueling the Great Resignation
November saw a record-breaking 4.5 million people leave their jobs, including 143,000 Pennsylvanians.
2 years ago
Listen 5:15
Montgomery County’s MontcoStrong grant program helped them, businesses report in survey
The $42 million program, established using CARES Act funding, helped small businesses and nonprofits during the pandemic.
2 years ago
Philly’s painful and profitable — for some — rental car crunch
After COVID-19 shut down travel for much of 2020, an ensuing rental car shortage is remaking Philly’s summer 2021 plans — and sparking some new businesses.
3 years ago
Listen 1:34